Chapter 9: My first day off

Completing my morning routine like I have every other day of my life. I walk towards Mrs. Hemsworth’s shop. Usually I’m working for the village wood cutting in the mornings, however, sometimes I like to visit her in the morning just to spice up my seven year old self’s life.

As I approach Mrs. Hemsworth’s shop, I notice her standing outside looking up and down the only road in the whole village. Quickening my pace, I jog up to her shop. Having arrived right beside Mrs. Hemsworth, she notices me and plans a huge smile on her plump round middle-aged face. Followed by her hands landing of my shoulders.

“My boy!” She exclaims with a joy filled tone. “Last night, some hunters from our village returned from their monthly hunt into the Crescent Moon Forest! And guess what they said they saw!” The excitement and happiness in her voice increased with each word she spoke to me.

“What did they see Mrs. Hemsworth?” I asked, because the hunters from are village may be have limited knowledge in the more rare plants then her. So the fact that these hunters from a small village like ours, Tallows Village is the name of our village, means that it’s a rare plant that almost everyone has heard of.

“They saw a Crescent Moon Yin Flower!”

Crescent Moon Yin Flower, was a legendary magical flower usually in the deepest parts of the Crescent Moon Forest. The legend behind the flower is that the Silver Moon Goddess Aurora was weeping in sorrow for all the blood shed between the races. And from a single tear, the Crescent Moon Yin Flower blossomed into existence. With its silver white petals and glow in the night along with its creator.

This legendary flower was the reason this village was established in the first place, over 200 years ago. When this flower was discovered there were thousands of them located in the forest. What made this flower so desirable was because it possessed the properties to hold liquid mana, when it was processed and mixed into the clay and silt used for crafting either glassware or pottery.

However, 150 years after they established the village the Crescent Moon Yin Flower was starting to become scarce. Almost to the point where it took days of searching the forest in order to find it. And eventually it was rarely seen.

No wonder Mrs. Hemsworth is so excited about the sighting of this flower! It could bring some money to this small village. Especially if there is more than one!

“That’s amazing Mrs. Hemsworth! Are you going to request some of the hunters to go back out and acquire the flower for you?” I asked because that’s the only reason she would still be in the village and not out in the forest searching for them herself.

Hearing my question Mrs. Hemsworth slowly losses her smile and retrieves her hands from my shoulders. Looking at me, Mrs. Hemsworth says something that I’d never thought she’d say.

“Well the thing is Ian, I was hoping that you could go with the group of hunters and gather the flower for me. I don’t have the energy to go all the way to where the flower was spotted. But you my boy do! And I do feel bad asking but those hunters wouldn’t know how to properly collect and store such a precious flower.”

Looking at Mrs. Hemsworth like she’s joking with me, I reply, “But Mrs. Hemsworth! The highest level plant that I’ve managed to gather was the Breeze Grass. And that was only yesterday! I didn’t even go up a level in [Herb Gathering]!”

Showing her my complete lack of confidence in properly collecting this flower, Mrs. Hemsworth slowly shakes her head like she knows what I’m currently capable of and yet thinking I should have the confidence to do more.

“Don’t worry my boy! Starting right now I’m going to teach you how to properly pick this flower! Plus those hunters are going to take a quick rest for about three days, then they’ll head back out of the forest with you in tow.” With her smile slowly making another appearance, Mrs. Hemsworth returns her hands onto my shoulders.

“There’s no way I can do that! I have other responsibilities that I need to take care of! And to gather the Crescent Moon Yin Flower don’t you need like at least a level 5 in [Herb Gathering]?!?” Continuing my plea of getting out of this task. I cry to Mrs. Hemsworth, sadly it was to no avail and she had managed to think of everything before we crossed paths.

“Ian my boy! How could I forget about your other responsibilities, I’ve already asked Mr. Sherwood about your wood cutting arrangement and he agreed that you going out to search for this flower is more important than cutting wood.” Mrs. Hemsworth exclaimed.

I totally didn’t believe for a second that that’s what Mr. Sherwood said. It would more likely to be along the lines of ‘Won’t make a difference to me if the boy missed a day or two. But he’ll have twice or more to finish before I even think about paying him’ Then think of the grumpiest face and tone at the same time and you have successfully embodied Mr. Sherwood.

So when Mrs. Hemsworth said those words earlier I knew she was fluffing it over since I am only a seven year old boy. But still… I am a lot more mature for my age than every other seven year in the village.

Realizing my lack of ability to win in this arrangement against an adult, I walk into Mrs. Hemsworth store without uttering another word. Seeing my actions, Mrs. Hemsworth follows me inside and starts happily taking out the necessary material of how to gather the Crescent Moon Yin Flower from her personal work bench at the back of the shop.

*POV: Random Silver Star Wolf*

Over a day or so ago, me and my brother heard a loud roar come from the mountain where the Hidden Danger of the Mountain lives. Our Pack Ancestors always told us, when we were growing up, to never use the small ponds of water near that mountain. For the Hidden Danger of the Mountain could prey upon you. So when we heard the savage roars of a creature that could only be the Hidden Danger that our Ancestors talked about, we couldn’t help but make our way over to the mountain to see what kind of event could make this terrifying creature make such savage roars.

However upon coming upon the meadow that is directly before the mountain, me and my brother couldn’t help but stare at the weirdest little fox we have ever seen.

In the middle of the lush green meadow was a little black fox. Without a care in the world it was rubbing its body all around the grass while giggling non-stop. It even stop to chase a butterfly once in a while.

During one of its butterfly chasing moments it accidently sneezed and black fire came out of its small jaw. Looking curiously at the destruction that its small sneeze just caused, the little black fox looked around curiously, almost like it was wondering what could have done this horrible thing right in front of it. Then it shrugged its shoulders and blinked out existence. Only for it to reappear on the other side of the meadow and continue on with its life as if nothing had happened.

Turning towards my brother who stopped watching such a weird fox and was waiting for me to move on towards the mountain. An enormously loud voice came out from the mountain.

The booming voice continued on it loud rant, but I tuned it out the moment it said ‘little black’ for the chance that it’s actually describing the little black fox in front of me and my brother isn’t worth even considering to be the truth or not.

Signaling to my brother that we are turning back. I dash as fast as my wind element will take me, not even caring if my brother is right behind me. I need to tell the Elders of our pack that the Hidden Danger of the Mountain is free of the mountain.